Webber pulls BBC 'Oz' talent show

Andrew Lloyd Webber has pulled plans for a Wizard Of Oz musical reality show on the BBC.

The programme, which would have followed a similar format to his former series I'd Do Anything, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, was supposed to involve nationwide auditions for someone to play Dorothy in a new West End production.

However, according to The Sun, Webber was concerned that he may have been criticised for using the series as a publicity stunt for his latest musical Love Never Dies, which opens in March 2010.

"We will not be finding Dorothy through a BBC reality show - we've pulled it," said Webber's business partner André Ptaszynski.

"It's just too risky. It's only been in the last two or three weeks that we've realised how much of a field day people would have with it.

"Andrew would be accused of doing the BBC show just to get publicity for Love Never Dies. The BBC would then be made to look like it was giving him undue prominence.

"We spoke with BBC director general Mark Thompson and we agreed to pull it."